President Donald Trump mentioned Tuesday — almost in passing — that he planned to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports. It still hit like a bombshell, with potential to shake up U.S. efforts to expand, develop and deploy artificial intelligence.

Prices for the metal hit a record high after the president suggested a higher rate than many analysts were expecting.

Copper shipments into the United States are expected to accelerate in the coming weeks in a final scramble to get metal across the border before U.S. President Donald Trump's higher than expected 50% tariff on imported copper takes effect.